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Portable 15 and 25 GHz Sampling Oscilloscopes

23 November 2017 - Pico Technology added three 15 GHz models and a further 25 GHz model to its portable and low-cost PicoScope 9300 Series of Sampling Oscilloscopes. The new 15 GHz models replace the preceding 9200 Series 12 GHz models, with significantly upgraded specifications at even lower prices, with the result that all Pico Sampling Oscilloscopes now operate under the PicoSample 3 software. These instruments combine Pico’s uniquely cost-effective sampling technology with the convenience of USB and LAN control ports.

At an entry-level price below $11,000, the 9301-15 gives the benefits of two channels at 15 GHz bandwidth and prescaled trigger to 14 GHz. It delivers market-leading 16-bit sampling rate of 1 MS/s in support of fast-update eye diagrams, persisted traces, histogramming and statistical analysis. Equivalent sampling rate tops out at 15 TS/s—that’s a time resolution of just 64 fs—along with an unusually long maximum trace length for sampling oscilloscopes of up to 32 kilosamples.

Why 15 GHz? At this bandwidth, Pico’s entry-level Sampling Oscilloscope aligns with today’s popular gigabit data rates. 15 GHz bandwidth will support third harmonic characterization of serial data out to 10 Gb/s and fifth harmonic out to 6 Gb/s. Full touch screen control, menus that configure to the application at hand, comprehensive PRBS pattern lock, and eye-line step and scan, all add up to a powerful and quite probably the lowest-cost instrument available for visualization, measurement and characterization of high-speed serial data. Move up to the 9302‑15 to add Clock Recovery trigger out to 11.3 Gb/s and RMS jitter typically down to 1.0 ps + 1% of data interval.

The third of the new 15 GHz models, priced below $15 k, the 9311-15 addresses single-ended Time Domain Transmission and Time Domain Reflection measurements. Again it’s a significant upgrade to the predecessor 9211 in cable, component, backplane and PCB impedance and transmission characterizations and network analysis. In this model, system transition time (65 ps) halves distance resolution and adjustable pulse width extends reflected fault detection range from around 4 mm typically out to 400 m (1350 ft). At 20 GHz, the 9311-20 continues to support fully differential and deskewable TDR/TDT capability and all 9300 models can be paired with the PG900 standalone fast pulse generators to achieve similar TDR/TDT capability, for example on the four-channel and optical input models, or greater flexibility with any 9300 model. The 9300 family also pairs well with Pico’s low-invasive PicoConnect 900 passive probes, capable of browse probing out to 9 GHz or 18 Gb/s, typically without interrupt of downstream function.

At 25 GHz, Pico has created the model 9302-25 to add 11.3 Gb/s clock recovery to the higher bandwidth models. This bandwidth will support 5th harmonic assessments at data rates to 10 Gb/s and, assuming a clock or sub-clock is available, 16 Gb/s at 3rd harmonic.